Hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner has a cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation that extends between the front and rear ends of the cyclone. A main body houses a suction motor. The suction motor is positioned rearward of the cyclone. The suction motor has an axis of rotation that is parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation. A pistol grip handle is located at the rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner wherein a finger grip area is positioned forward of the pistol grip handle and rearward of the main body. The cyclone axis of rotation extends through the pistol grip handle. An energy storage unit located at a lower end of the pistol grip handle and a power switch located at an upper end of the pistol grip handle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end, a lower end, a front end having a dirty air inlet and a rear end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, the air flow path comprising an inlet conduit that is positioned at the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the inlet conduit having a conduit axis; 
 (b) a cyclone assembly positioned in the air flow path, the cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone having a front end, a rear end and a cyclone axis of rotation that extends between the front and rear ends of the cyclone; 
 (c) a main body housing a suction motor, the suction motor is positioned in the air flow path and is positioned rearward of the cyclone, the suction motor has an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation; 
 (d) a pistol grip handle located at the rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner wherein a finger grip area is positioned forward of the pistol grip handle and rearward of the main body and wherein the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the pistol grip handle; 
 (e) an energy storage unit located at a lower end of the pistol grip handle; and, 
 (f) a power switch located at an upper end of the pistol grip handle. 
 
     
     
       2. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a pre-motor filter located between the cyclone and the suction motor. 
     
     
       3. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 2  wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone axis of rotation extending horizontally and the dirty air inlet above the cyclone, the pre-motor filter is positioned below the conduit axis. 
     
     
       4. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein a plane that is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the finger grip area and the energy storage unit. 
     
     
       5. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone assembly and a pre-motor filter comprise a removable air treatment unit. 
     
     
       6. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 5  wherein the pre-motor filter is located between the cyclone and the suction motor. 
     
     
       7. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone assembly has a front openable door. 
     
     
       8. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone assembly is removably mounted. 
     
     
       9. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 8  wherein the cyclone assembly is removable as a sealed unit other than a cyclone assembly air inlet and a cyclone assembly air outlet. 
     
     
       10. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the conduit axis intersects a portion of the pistol grip handle that houses the power switch. 
     
     
       11. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 10  wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone axis of rotation extending horizontally and the dirty air inlet above the cyclone, a pre-motor filter is positioned below the conduit axis. 
     
     
       12. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the cyclone assembly and the pre-motor filter comprise a removable air treatment unit. 
     
     
       13. A hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end, a lower end, a front end having a dirty air inlet and a rear end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, the air flow path comprising an inlet conduit that is positioned at the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the inlet conduit having a conduit axis; 
 (b) a cyclone assembly positioned in the air flow path, the cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone having a front end, a rear end and a cyclone axis of rotation that extends between the front and rear ends of the cyclone; 
 (c) a main body housing a suction motor, the suction motor is positioned in the air flow path and is positioned rearward of the cyclone, the suction motor has an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation; 
 (d) a pistol grip handle located at the rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner, wherein a finger grip area is positioned forward of the pistol grip handle and rearward of the main body wherein the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the pistol grip handle; and, 
 (e) a power switch located at an upper end of the pistol grip handle, wherein the conduit axis intersects a portion of the pistol grip handle that houses the power switch. 
 
     
     
       14. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 13  wherein the cyclone assembly and a pre-motor filter comprise a removable air treatment unit. 
     
     
       15. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 14  wherein the pre-motor filter is located between the cyclone and the suction motor. 
     
     
       16. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 13  wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone axis of rotation extending horizontally and the dirty air inlet above the cyclone, a pre-motor filter is positioned below the conduit axis. 
     
     
       17. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 13  wherein a plane that is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the finger grip area and an energy storage unit. 
     
     
       18. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 13  wherein the cyclone assembly is removable as a sealed unit other than a cyclone assembly air inlet and a cyclone assembly air outlet. 
     
     
       19. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 18  wherein the pre-motor filter is located between the cyclone and the suction motor. 
     
     
       20. The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 13  wherein a pre-motor filter is located between the cyclone and the suction motor and a lower end of the pre-motor filter is located at a lower end of the cyclone assembly.